General Herwigs sprang from the machine with alacrity and approached the officer and addressed the latter's own men.
"You know me, men," he said. "I have ever been a stanch supporter of his majesty. But now General Derloff questions the authority of the imperial chancellor. I order you to arrest him."
It was plain that the sentiment of the troops was about evenly divided. General Derloff immediately began to harangue his followers, and while the argument continued the man whom General Herwigs ordered away in search of reinforcements took the opportunity to disappear.
He was out of sight before anyone noticed his absence. Ten minutes later, while the argument between the two generals still waxed hot, the troops meanwhile being undecided just what to do, a second force of infantry appeared in the distance, coming forward at the double.
General Derloff was the first to see them.
"Quick, men, away!" he cried. "We have been tricked!"
His men turned in confusion and ran.
As they did so, the loyal troops opened fire on the mutineers. Immediately the latter, angered, turned to reply to the fire.
Rifles cracked right and left.
The allied airplane, caught thus between two fires, was in a dangerous predicament.